Pasadena Heritage 2012 Spring Home Tour

The upcoming Pasadena Heritage 35th Anniversary Spring Home Tour will highlight mid-century modern residential architecture on a self-driven tour of 5 mid-century homes designed by noted architects. Featured homes were designed by graduates and teachers from the School of Architecture, University of Southern California and architects who received their degrees outside of California to contrast the USC style.

The deSteiguer House designed by Harwell Hamilton Harris in 1936, and moved to its current location by Leland Evison in 1951, and the Thomson House (shown above), designed by Buff, Straub, and Hensman in 1957, are both part of the Poppy Peak Historic District, which was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. A Park Planned Homes designed by Gregory Ain in 1947-1948 in neighboring Altadena is part of a unique grouping of mirror-image homes that comprise a single residential block. Harold Zook and John Galbraith received architectural degrees from Cornell University and the University of Washington, Seattle, respectively. Tour houses will be open on Sunday, March 25th from 9am to 4pm. Trained docents will be on site with information about the architects, homes, and original owners.

Before the Spring Home Tour, there will be a champagne reception and presentation at the 1979 King House, designed by Buff and Hensman. Guest speaker Kenneth A. Breisch, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Graduate Programs in Historic Preservation at the School of Architecture, University of Southern California, will give an illustrated presentation on the USC style and its impact on Southern California architectural traditions in the mid-twentieth century. The reception will be held Tuesday, March 20 at 5:30 pm.